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Imago

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Imago

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Barcelona forward Lionel Messi will have tests on Monday on a possible muscle injury sustained in Sunday’s 6-0 La Liga victory at home to Athletic Bilbao, coach Luis Enrique said.

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Messi, who scored Barca’s opening goal from the penalty spot, was replaced by Arda Turan at halftime at the Nou Camp and Luis Enrique told a news conference he had taken the decision as a precaution.

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The Argentina forward and FIFA Ballon d’Or holder missed two months late last year with a knee injury but has looked close to his best in recent weeks.

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“Tomorrow tests will be conducted, he has some mild muscle fatigue,” Luis Enrique told a news conference.

“There was no sense in taking risks,” added the former Barca and Spain midfielder. “I don’t like to risk anyone, least of all Messi.”

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Barca’s Spain fullback Jordi Alba also had to come off in the second half after sustaining what looked like a hamstring strain when lunging for the ball.

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Second-placed Barca, who are two points behind leaders Atletico Madrid with a game in hand, play at Bilbao in the first leg of their King’s Cup quarter-final on Wednesday.

Barca beat Bilbao 3-1 in last year’s final and the return is at the Nou Camp a week later.

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(Writing by Iain Rogers, editing by Justin Palmer)

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Dhruv George

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Dhruv George is EssentiallySports’ foremost authority on motorsport and a founding member of the outlet’s NASCAR desk. A Journalism graduate fluent in English and French, he brings over eight years of motorsports journalism experience covering everything from high-octane NASCAR battles to the finesse of Formula 1 and MotoGP. His extensive paddock access has earned him exclusive interviews with top names such as Know more

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